An article in “The Wall Street Journal” includes the perspectives of Professor Audrey Rogers who commented on the so-called “fantasy defense” and its use in a Federal case in New York City.

The case is against Gilbert Valle, a NYC police officer, who has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping after he posted on an online site his plans to kidnap, rape, cook, and eat women. His lawyers claim his comments merely represent his fantasies and are protected speech, the “fantasy defense” that has been used in similar cases involving internet postings.

“The defendant will say they were just role-playing, they always knew they were talking to another adult or they never planned to do it,” Prof. Rogers is quoted as saying.